Machine for clipping sheep



Modem J. K. ALWOOD. Machine for Clipping Sheep.

Patented May 17, 1881.

to them.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MJOSIAH K. ALWVOOD, OF MORENCL'MIGHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR CLIPPING SHEEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,584, dated May 17,1881.

Application filed December 23, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH K.ALwoon, of

Morenci, Lenawee county, State of Michigan,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices or Machines forUlippin g Sheep, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to machines for clipping sheep and other animals;and the object of my improvements is to provide such devicesandcombinations thereof as will enable me to produce a machine which willclip the fleece or hair from animals smoothly and withoutinjury l attainthis object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which Figurel is an elevation of the entire machine, showing thesupporting-frame, the mechanism for giving the required movements, andthe clipping mechanism. Fig.2 is a plan view of the clipping device andthe means ofconvertin g a rotary motion into a reciprocating one, the

cap for covering the same being removed. Fig.

3 is a plan view with the cap removed, showing the cutting-blades and anarm for use in moving them. FigA is a plan view of the cap whichconstitutes'a' portion of the handle for guiding the clipping-shears,itbeing shown as removed from the lower portion; and Fig. 5 is aviewshowing the ends of the disk which gives motion to the shears.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the figures.

In constructing machines of this character 1 provide a suitableframework, upon which the moving parts rest. The shears consist of anupper and lower jaw. Upon theouter end of the former, which isdesignated by the letter A, there is fixed a plate having upon its outeredge a series of pointed cutting-edges, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thisjaw is pivoted to the lower one, asshown at X in Fig. 2, and has uponits inner portion a projecting arm, which is provided with a disk whichfits into the space formed in the pivoted lever C, said lever beingbifurcated at its outer end and pivoted to jaw A in such a manner thatas its inner pointed end is moved by a rotating disk (soon to bedescribed) it will be capable of having imparted to its inner end both avertical and a longitudinal movement, and thus enable it to give to thejaw A and the cutting-edges attached thereto the required reciprocatingmovements. The lower jaw, B, has upon its outer end a series of points,as shown in Fig. 2,such points being for the purpose of collecting thewool or hair of the animal and holding it in position to be cut by theedges formed. upon or attached to the upper jaw, A. The jaw B has nomovement except such as is imparted to it by the operator. It,.however,extends rearward suflieiently far to form a chamber or a part of achamber for the lever O to work in, it being covered for a portion ofits length with a recessed cap, D, which is secured to it by screws, andwhich, together with the part B, constitute a handle, which the operatorgrasps, and by which he directs the. cutting-edges of the shears t0 theproper point.

In the inner end of the jawB and in the cap D there is provided aconical bearing, in which revolves a conical journal, F, saidbearingforming the support for the end of a shaft, which carries uponits inner end a disk, E, located within the chamber formed by thejaw Band the cap D. This disk is provided with a series of holes, 1 2 3 4 5,as shown in Fig.5, into which the pointed end of lever G enters,.and bywhich said lever receives the required movement to give the propermovements to the shears or cutting-edges.

To the outer end of the shaft, which enters the coiiical journal F,there is affixed a yoke, G, which forms a part of what is usually termed a universal joint, it being connected with a similar yoke on the endof a shaft, H, at the opposite end of which there is a similar joint,the two constituting bearings for said shaft, and constituting atumbling-shaft capable of being changed to any desired angle to thedriving-shaft, and thus enabling the operator to change the position ofthe shears to various parts of the body of the animal without affectingthe movements of the shears.

For giving motion to the tumbling'shaft H there is provided a shaft,which is secured to a beam, L, and carries upon one of its ends abeveled pinion, P, which meshes into and is driven by a beveled wheel,R, which is placed upoh a stud projecting from the beam L at about thecenter thereof.

Upon the outer surface of the wheel R, or upon the stud which. supportsthe same, and

outside thereof, there is placed a band-wheel, Q, over which passes aband or belt, m. Said band also passes over a wheel or drum, W, which iscarried upon a shaft having its bearings in the frame of the machine, itbeing supplied with a crank, by which thewheel W is rotated, said wheelgiving motion to the wheels R and P, and through them to the othermoving parts of the device.

To the sides of theframe of the machine there are pivoted two posts orsupports,Y Y, the upper ends of which are provided with sliding ortelescopic tubes, the upper ends of which have in them set-screws S S,for determining the distance between the wheels W and Q, and thusregulating the tension of the band m. The posts or supports Y Y arepivoted to the opposite sides and ends of the frame and of the beam L,their positions being such with reference to driving-wheel WV that whenin a vertical position the center of the wheel R will be exactly in linevertically with that of W, and hence it follows that the beam and thewheel B may be oscillated to any extent permitted by the parts withoutaffecting the belt or band which drives the shears, which can thus bebrought into use upon the body of the animal throughout a greater rangethan would otherwise be possible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s'

1. The combination of the oscillating jaw A, carrying upon its outer enda series of cuttingedges, the oscillating lever O, for giving motion tothe jaw and its cutters, the lower jaw, B, having upon it a series ofgathering-points, the disk E, for giving motion to said lever, theconical journal F, and tumbling-shaft H, and suitable mechanism fordriving the same, substantially as shown and described.

2. Thecombination,inamachineforclipping animals, of a longitudinaloscillating support, L,f0rthe driving mechanism, it having extensi: blesupports for uniting it with the frame of the machine, a stationarydriving-pulley, a belt for communicating the movement of thedrivingpulley to a tumbling-shaft, and the clippingshears, substantiallyas set forth.

JOSIAH K. ALVVOOD.

Witnesses:

SARAH S. ALWooD, LAURA A. ALWooD.

